Mine-car coupler



Feb.28,1928. I 1,660,636

J. N. TWEEDY MINE CAR courwa Filed Feb. 21. 1927 lllll I ll llw I I 60 -m7 Patented Feb; 28, 1928. i I

' UNITED STATES 'JoHN N. TWEEDY, OF WEST FRAliTKFORT-gILLINOIS.

MINE-GAR oonPLER.

Application filed February21, 1927/ Serial NoQ 169,911..

This invention'relates to coupling devices especially designed for use in connection with the drawrbarsof mine cars and aims to provide a coupler which may be detachably secured to a draw bar of a 'minecar, i to be engaged by a coupling link to couple cars.

Animportant object of the invention is, to provide a device of thischaracter which will automatically operate when a coupling link is moved into the coupling head, eliminating the necessity of an .operator moving a latch member or the like to couple cars.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coupler which will permit'cars to round curves without danger of breaking or uncoupling the coupler. I

lVith the foregoing and other objects in viewwhich will appear as the description '20 proceeds, the invention resides inthe combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, .it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of 26 the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Referring to the drawing: r Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through a coupling device con- 7 structed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a plan view thereof showing the same as connected with thedraw bars of mine cars.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line '3- 8 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates a portion of a mine car to which the tubular member 6 is secured, the tubular member acting as a support for the draw bar 7 which is formed with a head 8 at one end thereof. I

' A coiled spring indicated at 9 is housed by the tubular member 6 and has one of its ends contacting with the head -8, the opposite-end thereof contacting with the head 10 at the opposite end of the housing or tubular member 6 so that movement of the draw bar in one direction, will act to place the spring under tension and return the draw bar; 7

As clearly shown by the drawing, this head 10 is formed with an enlargement or irregularportion 11 cooperating with the collar 12 carried by the draw bar 7, and which is constructedin a-similar manner so that rotary moven'ient of the draw bar 7 is I prevented, to the end that the draw bar is held in'atrue horizontal position.

The coupler "forming the essence of tl16" present invention includes a hollow head lt which has its ends flared as "atl15 and 16 respectively so that movement of'thc draw bar and coupling 8 in. horizontal planes, will be permitted without danger of v directing lateral strain to the coupling'head to twist or render the same inoperative,

when the mine cars equippedwith the coupling are roundinga curve inv the track. The reference character 17 indicates a vertical bolt that passes through'openings in the coupler head 14, the bolt also passing through the usual pin'opening-of the draw I bar, thereby connecting the coupler head and draw bar in a manner to permit of movement of the head with respect to the draw bar.

.- Surrounding the bolt 17 is a coiled spring 7 18 that has one, end thereof embedded in an opening in the coupler head, While the op- J posite end is positioned within an opening of a draw bar-7, the tension of the spring being such as to normally movethe coupling head to its normal position, thereby insuring the head being held in a position to receive the coupling link, associated therewith. i

1 As shown by Figure 1, the head 14: is pro- 1 videdwith an upstanding portion 19 which 3 is provided with spaced ears formed with openings toreceive the bolt 20that provides a pivot for the locking dog 21 that hasa rearwardly extendedtail piece .22 formed with an opening to receive the chain 23. This locking dog 21.,is of a length to move within the cut out portion 24 which cut out portion defines a shoulder 25 against which .the lockinggdog is held in the coupling of cars.

In order, that the locking dog may be moved to its inactive position, a pivoted dog operating member 26 is provided, which has handle portions 27 to the end that as the arms 27 are moved, the locking dog maybe elevated- When the locking dog is released, it will of course move to its normal.

' position by gravity.

The locking link is indicated bythe reference character 28 and has a head 29- formed with a recess to receivethe draw bar 30, the

head being flared. as'sliown by Figure 2 to permit of swinging movement of the locking I 3 linln The head of the locking link'is connected with the draw bar 30 by means o1 the bolt 31 around which the coiled spring 32is1posi= tlonecl, the spring hav ng an upwardly eX- tenclecl end portion 33 fitted in an opening of the'hezid, While the opposite end of the coiled spi'ing fits in an openingof the draw:

ing bar 30t0 normally return the locking link to a position clire'ctlyin' front of the coupling head so that the will fautomati: Cally find its Way intothe coupling head" when two cars are brought together;

Front) the ioi'egoingi it"vvill be seen th'at ai Coupler constructed in accordance" With the present invention may be readily and easily secured to the draw hers of n iine cars and the mine cars coupledv in such a ivay that they'mziy move around cnrvesjoi' overshort switches Without danger of the I cai's becoming uncoupled.-

v I claim A mine car coupling coinprisinga hollow I coupler head having laterally flared front end rear portlons and an upstanding portion havnig transverse aligning openings, a bolt extending thronghthe wogenings, a: locking (lo'gpivotally'nionnteclon the bolt, said heacl having a cut away portion defining a shoulder facing innmi'dly said locking clog edapt- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as any own, I have hereto aflixed my signature JOHN NLITWEEDYQ and 

